Why do anthropologists attribute intelligence to Homo erectus?

Answer 1

Because Homo erectus was one of the first genus of Homo to walk upright. They also learned to make better tools, used their hands and opposable thumbs. They even learned to speak so they were able to communicate better than Australopithecines had. They used their language skills to hunt as a coordinated group. They also migrated to North Africa and the Eurasian landmass, which Australopithecus-again-did not do. Aside from all of this they learned to make fire to cook and use as a weapon. So it's only fair anthropologists attributed them with intelligence.